RESOLUTION URGING THE PRESIDENT AND U.S. SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO IMPOSE A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DETENTIONS AND DEPORTATIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED, NON-CRIMINAL IMMIGRANTS AND PROSPECTIVE BENEFICIARIES OF COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM LEGISLATION CURRENTLY PENDING IN CONGRESS

Indexes:

IMMIGRATION

Sponsors:

Katy Sorenson, Prime Sponsor

Bruno A. Barreiro, Co-Sponsor

Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Co-Sponsor

Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor

Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor

Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor

Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor

Dennis C. Moss, Co-Sponsor

Sen. Javier D. Souto, Co-Sponsor

Dorrin D. Rolle, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision:
No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History

Acting Body

Date

Agenda Item

Action

Sent To

Due Date

Returned

Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners

2/20/2007

14A3

Adopted

P

REPORT:

Commissioner Sorenson asked for clarification regarding the County’s policy on immigration and whether or not the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) was collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Mr. Donnie Merchant, Assistant Director of Police Services, MDPD, stated MDPD was not an extension of nor did it work directly or cooperatively with immigration or customs services. He noted if a criminal situation arose, depending upon the situation, ICE would be notified if necessary. Mr. Merchant stated MDPD did not enforce immigration laws and it was working with the community and day laborers so each side would clearly understand the state laws. Mr. Merchant clarified that the preference was not to make an arrest however if there was a state violation or criminal violation appropriate action would be taken.
Commissioner Diaz commended MDPD and stated that it was not the practice of MDPD to conduct raids or to go out and look for illegal aliens.
In response to Commissioner Moss’ question regarding communicating this information to the community, Mr. Merchant explained that they had met with representatives of the day laborers and requested they identify a liaison who would work with MDPD to educate the day laborers, to get voluntary compliance, and to understand the system.
Commissioner Sosa commended MDPD for working with the immigrants, the business community and the residential areas. She suggested the possibility of having a designated place, far from the residential area and the business area, where the day laborers may wait; this may eliminate the problems the residential and the business areas were experiencing.
In response to Commissioner Sorenson’s question regarding MDPD providing back up on immigration raids, Mr. Merchant stated MDPD did not provide backup during immigration raids, however, if an officer needed assistance due to a safety issue, MDPD had a duty to respond.

County Manager

2/20/2007

Additions

2/20/2007

County Attorney

2/15/2007

Assigned

Jess M. McCarty

2/15/2007

Legislative Text

TITLE

RESOLUTION URGING THE PRESIDENT AND U.S. SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO IMPOSE A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DETENTIONS AND DEPORTATIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED, NON-CRIMINAL IMMIGRANTS AND PROSPECTIVE BENEFICIARIES OF COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM LEGISLATION CURRENTLY PENDING IN CONGRESS

BODY

WHEREAS, comprehensive immigration reform legislation, including a generous path to legalization for millions of undocumented, non-criminal immigrants in the United States, was adopted by the U.S. Senate last May and is supported by the President and leading members of Congress including all members of the Florida Congressional Delegation; and
WHEREAS, undocumented, non-criminal immigrants have families and U.S.-born children, work hard, pay taxes, own businesses, and contribute to the social, cultural, and economic life of Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, detentions and deportations destroy families, traumatize U.S.-born children, and disrupt the economic and social cohesion of our community; and
WHEREAS, it is immoral to detain and deport persons who may benefit from comprehensive immigration reform legislation which we support and which it is anticipated that Congress will enact this year; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is the most diverse county in the U.S. with sixty percent (60%) of our population hailing from abroad; and

WHEREAS, Florida’s prosperous agricultural, tourism, construction, and other industries depend on the work and contributions of immigrants; and
WHEREAS, many who have fled political repression and turmoil in their homelands, instead of receiving justice and fairness, have too often been relegated to second-class citizenship and lives of fear, insecurity, intimidation, and exploitation; and
WHEREAS, approximately 5,000 children each year grow up in Florida and graduate from Florida high schools, but through no fault of their own, lack proper immigration documents making them unable to secure drivers’ licenses or afford college, and causing them to live in fear of their parents’ or their own deportation to lands they’ve never known and whose languages they don’t speak; and
WHEREAS, current U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detention and deportation policies effectively cause panic, fear, and family separations, impeding our need to build strong families and social networks; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade’s Congressional Delegation strongly champions fair and generous comprehensive immigration reform legislation which provides a mechanism for adjustment of status to legal permanent residence in the United States to keep families together; and
WHEREAS, current DHS enforcement actions threaten Miami-Dade children, families, and communities by unnecessarily detaining and deporting thousands of individuals who would soon benefit from such legislation,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the President and the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security to impose an immediate moratorium on all detentions and deportations of undocumented, noncriminal immigrants pending the outcome of fair and comprehensive immigration reform legislation currently pending before Congress.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the U.S. President, the members of the Miami-Dade County Congressional Delegation and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Section 3. Directs the County's federal lobbyists to advocate for the action set forth in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2007 Federal Legislative Package.